Trucking Accidents Are More Frequent In Rural Areas

July 08, 2015
By
Pierce, Herns, Sloan & Wilson, LLC

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An accident involving a semi truck is more likely to occur in a rural area.
This fact might seem counter intuitive, as one might think that a highly
populated area with traffic congestion would pose the bigger risk of causing
an accident. Yet
statistically more accidents involving large semi trucks occur in the middle of nowhere,
on rural highways. Why is that so?

Drivers Are More Attentive in Cities and Towns

Densely populated areas, such as cities and towns, pose a higher number
of hazards on the roadways. There are a higher number of other vehicles
sharing the roadways, there is a higher frequency of bicyclists and pedestrians,
and there is a high volume of traffic lights and signs. Truck drivers
need to be extra vigilant when driving in crowded areas, to make sure
that they drive safely. Truck drivers generally operate their semis at
lower speeds and pay more attention to signage, road conditions, and the
other drivers around them.

Besides the driver’s increased attentiveness when driving in cities
and towns, there are a number of safety precautions that force truck drivers
to use more care within city limits. For example, speed limits are generally
lower in cities and towns than on open freeways, and trucks are often
restricted in terms of what lanes they can use on highways that runs through
cities. These precautions make the roads safer inside city limits for
all drivers.

All Alone, In The Middle of Nowhere

In areas where the population is less dense on the roadways, semi truck
drivers do not have to remain as vigilant when operating their large trucks.
There is less congestion on the road, meaning fewer hazards and less risk.
Truck drivers become more lax due to the perceived reduction in potential
hazards on the road.

A number of factors contribute to a truck driver’s false sense of
security on the road when driving in rural areas, a few of which include,
but are not limited to:

The hypnotizing effect of long stretches of boring, flat road and landscape

Fewer other drivers on the roads, prompting a decline in driver vigilance
behind the wheel

Fewer other drivers on the road, making the truck driver think it is safe
to engage in distracted driving, such as eating while driving, texting,
using a cell phone to make a call, or manipulating the GPS systems or the radio

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